# Hipocratic Oath **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991 "2001-01-14T12:17:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jukeball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@Jukeball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jukeball)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/1 "2001-01-14T12:17:49Z")
Well i just happened to hear of this oath which Doctors ( Yup u got it right !! ) have to take. What is this oath ??? ---
**Author:** ![Jukeball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@Jukeball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jukeball)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/2 "2001-01-14T18:04:58Z")
No one knows? ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/3 "2001-01-14T18:06:51Z")
Hippocrates was a Greek physician living in about the 5th century BC. From [this site](http://www.usmedstudents.com/links/hippocraticoath.htm), the Hippocratic Oath physicians swear to is: > [@](#): > > I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, Hygeia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses, that, > according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this covenant. > > To reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring on the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the law of medicine, but no one else. > > I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my > patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if > asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practise my Art. > > I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by such men as are practitioners of > this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. > > Whatever, in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of > men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. > While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and practice of the Art, > respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot. I came across the “original version” on some sites, which is slightly different than the one above (and can be found [here](http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/hippoath.htm)). I’m sure an M.D. will be by shortly to fill in the gaps. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/4 "2001-01-14T18:17:12Z")
Lest anyone think good ol’ Hippo-crates actually penned the eponymous oath: the oath actually dates (according to [m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com)) to only **1747**. Hippocrates’ connection is purely symbolic, and perhaps (WAG here) part of some Enlightenment attempt to remove snake-oil and quackery from medicine of the day by foisting an ethical oath upon physicians. The Oath is “taken by those about to begin medical practice.” ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/5 "2001-01-15T05:06:38Z")
[Here](http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/handbook/oath.html) is the oath taken by U Penn Med School grads. You’ll notice the alot of the ancient references, as well as the prohibition on abortion and surgery, have been removed. IIRC, in 1974 the Oath was modernized and this is its current form. ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipocratic-oath/49991/6 "2001-01-15T05:42:11Z")
it’s just christian pro-life, anti-euthanasia propaganda.